International Law

Globe and Mail: Professionalism and Legal Ethics

Kirk Makin canvasses the future of legal ethics in Ontario in a thoughtful article in today's Globe:

The first task for proponents of the professionalism movement has been defining what they mean. By consensus, it appears to boil down to civility; mentoring; continuing education; maintaining client confidentiality; avoidance of conflicts; and maintaining independence.

"It has to do with the notion that being a lawyer does not mean simply holding a job," said Ontario Court of Appeal Judge Stephen Goudge, a moving force in the campaign. "This is about being part of a profession that is given a stature and a certain prestige and, in return, includes a significant service component."

...The key question for the professionalism movement lies in whether counsel - not only academics and law society benchers - also buy into it. The answer is likely to hinge on whether the movement maintains a sense of realism about life in the legal trenches.

See the full article: It's about so much more than billable hours

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

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Full post as published by Wise Law Blog on February 25, 2009 (boomark / email).